I mentioned earlier that I wanted to do a series. Well, here is what I have so far. They are "desktop" mosaics- each have an "anchor" or primary focal point - I now have all of these pieces for sale at the Alexandria Museum of Art. I really enjoy making these- -I simplified the steps to make them- I used a piece of wedi board with a thin layer of colored thinset and insert it into a frame. Then I mask the frame and make the mosaic- no grouting and no painting! I'm going to make a few more to take to the San Souci gallery in Lafayette. I'm also about to begin 3 commissions- my friend that I made the table for (see Cyprium) found more rocks and wants me to do some pieces for her family members. Should be fun!

I finished the above piece yesterday (which will be a table top)- I named it "Cyprium" - which is the original word for copper the Romans used. It means "metal from Cyprus". Since the rock and mineral samples I used came from one of the Cyprus copper mines, I thought the name fit. Overall I'm pleased with the piece- of course, there are some things I would think about doing differently- I lost one of the colors after I grouted, so I would not use that color again and I think I would add a bit more movement--but maybe not. I'll have to look at it a while. I hope my friends that I made it for are pleased. they may come see it today (I still have to seal it) - but with everyone trying to recover from Hurricane Gustav they may not make it.

I began my mosaic table and am almost half of the way through - here is the first part. The other half is going to be lighter with gold highlights. I'm enjoying working with the mexican smalti - it is so easy to cut. I'm making the individual pieces of smalti a little larger that I would like- but I decided to do so since it is a table and I think it would make a more level surface.

I've put aside my marble piece below to begin a commission-actually I have not done much in the studio in a couple of months. I've primarily been spending my spare time assisting with an Artist Development Workshop that was held a couple of weeks ago and also working on the committee for the Louisiana Craft Guild's new website. It's going to be killer!
My new commission is a small table made with Mexican smalti and rock samples. I'll take a few "work in progress" photos in a few days. I also need to get busy producing some things to sell- I've agreed to do a booth (actually share a booth) at the World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) Marketplace in New Orleans again this year. They have moved the date to the end of October- still not much time!

I've been primarily working on one piece since January, 2008--I worked on it for a few weeks-decided I hated it and put it aside. Then-- I went to the SAMA Summit in April and got inspiration! I decided that I might be able to "save" the piece with the background. I was not happy the primarily designs in the piece-- which I actually started in a class with Emma Biggs in a 2007 SAMA workshop. The design just was not what I envisioned. Another thing happened that made me return to this piece--free marble!! I went to a local marble, granite and tile place- and the guy there pointed to a giant scrape pile and said- take all you want! Of course, I have to settle for the colors they have- but they have some gorgeous scrapes and some scrapes of very expensive marble. A mosaic artist's dream! So- even if I end up hating --I know I will have learned something from this piece. It is my first piece that is primarily marble, so I'm learning how to cut marble and how to use my hammer and hardie. Above is a "sneak preview" - the piece is about 24" x 30"- the section above is about 8" x 5".

Alexandria Museum of Art Workshop


Here are several of the works created by my adult students in the mosaic workshop I taught at the Alexandria Museum of Art in April, 2008. We had a small but creative group! None of the students had ever done mosaics before- I was very impressed with their accomplishments. The workshop was done under the Museum's "Art Smart" Program.

Here is a new small piece. I've been thinking a lot about doing some small works that I can sell in the museum shop or the LA Crafts Guild galleries, that would be affordable. (translate- that would SELL!) I may actually give this one to the museum for their fundraiser. This is a bit different process for me--I start with the frame, and then make a mosaic that fits. I've generally gone with a small or no frame - I really had fun doing this piece- probably because I could actually finish it in a day or two and see a final product- plus no pesky painting the frame or grouting!

Lots of news to report since my last entry. I now have several mosaic pieces for sale at the store Barnwell Center in Shreveport. Here is their web site for information on how to find them-although they do not have my pieces listed yet:

http://www.barnwellcenter.com/the%20store%20at%20the%20Barnwell%20Center.htm

I've signed up to go to the SAMA Conference (Society of America Mosaic Artist) in Miami the first week in April- looking forward to taking a workshop, "Listen to the Rocks with Bill Buckingham and Sophie Drouin". I have one other spot for a workshop left- but can not decide what to take - maybe I'll just save my money and buy more stuff at the vendor market!

I joined the Contempary Arts Guild, a local guild in Alexandria. We have a show opening Sunday at Capitol One Bank and I will have a couple of pieces in the show.



Also, I'm doing another workshop- at the Alexandria Museum of Art. They have a series called "Art Smart". which is a basic introduction to a particular medium. The workshop will be held April 26th & 27th. It is free to members and I think will cost $10 for non-member--this is a DEAL! The material will cost more than that.

I've started my marble mosaic with ammonites. I like marble but I have to learn how to make better cuts with it. I'm also not happy with my design now that I am half way through it! I have summoned help though- so we'll see what happens! It certainly will be a learning experience. It is also the largest thing I've done to date.

Oh yes, and I must mention the new mosaic magazine- "Mosaic Art Now". It is the brainchild of Bill Buckingham. I got my first issue this week and it is very well done. Right now it is yearly, but I hope he has enough interest to do it at least quarterly. There is some amazing talent in that magazine. Here is the web site: http://www.mosaicartnow.com/ - check it out!!